1850 "After arriving in town (Columbia), we stopped before a Hotel as it was termed. But it
might properly been called a Gambling House, as Gambling was carried on in the highest degree." - David B. Hackman, A Pennsylvania Mennonite and the California Gold Rush.*

1853 July 3 - "in Columbia, some of the large houses are going to serve up great dinners at four dollars a head and in the evening they are going to have a fancy ball which will cost ten dollars for admission".These places are principally patternised(sic) only by gamblers and other fast men and women of the place. On these occasions there is always a great excitement and considerable fighting going on." - David B. Hackman A Pennsylvania Mennonite and the California Gold Rush.*

1853 "The Spaniards and Mexicans go in for dancing houses or `Fandangoes', as they are called, but these are tolerable rough places." -David B. Hackman A Pennsylvania Mennonite and the California Gold Rush.*

1857 October 27 - Mariquita Martines from Chile and Josefa Rojas a 30 yr. old Chilean purchased for $800 the south half of the lot known as Loraine's Fandango from Adolphe Loraine and Santo Gonzales. It was 25 feet wide and 100 feet deep. The lot was bare (from August fire?) and the women had a structure built whithin the next year. (Deeds Vol. 7 page 23)(Eastman Vol. 9 page 97)

1860 June 1 - Mariquita Martines and Margareta Moscoso (30 yr old from Chile) buys a parcel of land from Henry Smith that is on the west side of Main Street, above Jackson Street for $157.50. It is 25 feet in front and 110 feet deep. (Deeds Vol. 10 page 164) (Eastman Vol.9 page 138) Willie Minor 28 yr. old female from Jamaica is listed as a barkeeper living with Josfa Rojas in 1860 census.

* A Pennsylvania Mennonite and the California Gold Rush as written by David Baer Hackman from 1850 to 1855 and Lawrence Berger-Knorr 2008NOTE: Most "Saloons" listed may not have been drinking and gambling houses. The word saloon in the mid 1800s would apply to most businesses that wished to imply a grand hall with fine fixtures. Also the list is not a complete one and may have errors.